No Algae, So Otocinclus Are Dying

Hello all,

I have a different problem than most people face. My water lettuce has absolutely taken off to the point where I'm taking out cupfuls every week and they still cover nearly the entire water surface. The lower plants have been suffering slightly from low light but I've been trimming the water lettuce to allow more light and more room for the fish. Since the plants started exploding the algae has completely disappeared and my otos are dying. I had 3 that had been in the tank 6 months with no issues. Over the last month I've lost one that looked like it was starving, one more appears to be slowly dying (shrinking tummy) and one seems sort of normal from the size of it's belly. I regularly add outside food to the point where now there is always spinach or zucchinI or algae wafers in the tank, and observe for long period if they're consuming it but they seems to want nothing to do with any of these foods. I always drop them in the same spot and they just don't seem to want to eat. I don't want to lose the 2 I have left, I hope to add another to get back to 3 but don't want to do it unless I can make sure it will live.

Thoughts? Are otos just wrong for my tank config at this point? Do I just have picky otos? I see them in pristine show tanks all the time, I wonder what they eat there?

 

The ottos in the show tanks are probably used to there being little or no algae.

To fix the ottos dying problem have you tried algae wafers?

 

The ottos in the show tanks are probably used to there being little or no algae.

To fix the ottos dying problem have you tried algae wafers?

TY for the response - I have the HikarI Algae wafers, I usually crack them up into 2-3 pieces so the amano shrimp don't take it and run away. The Otos never seem to munch on the wafers so I've resorted to crumbling them near where they usually hang out, but I am not sure they're getting any

 

I'm not an expert on Otocinclus Cats, so I'm hoping my advice is okay, but I would try algae wafers with garlic (Something like Garlic Guard by Seachem, or just squeeze your own garlic juice.) Apparently garlic attracts fish who are finicky about food.

 

Yes try that but also just keep doing what you are doing. Not exactly sure if you can force feed fish...

 

I'm not an expert on Otocinclus Cats, so I'm hoping my advice is okay, but I would try algae wafers with garlic (Something like Garlic Guard by Seachem, or just squeeze your own garlic juice.) Apparently garlic attracts fish who are finicky about food.

Thank you, I will try that

 

Also, ottos need 6+ in their tank. JSYK

 

Also, ottos need 6+ in their tank. JSYK

I know, unfortunately I got two before I knew that. I made it 3 so the tank wasn't overcrowded but they still had some company, didn't have the heart to return them. If I can't save the one that is in trouble now I will give away the last one to someone with a school.

 

I am glad you tried to give them the care they deserve. If garlic doesn't work then maybe, the solution is to use a bit more meaty pellets, along with the wafers. Good luck!

 

I currently have 2 otto cats and disagree with starting off with a lot of these little work horses contrary to popular beliefs neither one of mine are ever " near" each other so to speak so my belief is start with a smaller amount and work your way up as your tank becomes more established to avoid them to be scrambling to find food and stress out and eventually pass...I'm at a point with my tank where I will add 2 more in the next month or so....Just my .02

 

THE HABITAT

I completely agree with you, often times in fishkeeping you have to figure things out on your own through experience rather than just listening to what others say. Fish are still living organisms which are rather complex so personalities and various traits and needs can differ from each fish of the same species.

 

My otos LOVE New Life Spectrum small fish formula. They suck it up as soon as it hits the bottom.

Also try some zucchinI or squash, or even some melon rind.

 

My otos LOVE New Life Spectrum small fish formula. They suck it up as soon as it hits the bottom.

Also try some zucchinI or squash, or even some melon rind.

Thanks Fahn, I will look that up. Squash too, zucchinI they don't seem to like too much. Melon rind, sounds have never thought of that, will try this all!

 

Sorry to hear this about your otos. You describe a common challenge with trying to get them to accept commercial foods. New Life Spectrum is a great food to try.

But at this point, they need to get some algae ASAP or they won't make it. A couple ideas (some of which may seem drastic):

Do you have any other tanks or know anyone with an established tank that has algae? You could scrape some off for the otos. Hopefully they'll accept it. This is short-term food emergency action.

Grow algae for them. This will take a few days but it's easy to do. I've done it for my mystery snail. Put several aquarium-safe stones into a few clear plastic cups. Fill the cups with enough tank water to cover the stones. Then place the cups in direct sunlight.

Hope this helps.

 

Crumble food to dust. It will lay on the leaves and surfaces. Tho oto's when hungry will scavage all those places.

They sometimes have difficulty to adapt to "our food" like wafers, pellets, cumcumber etc etc (not many of those in SA riversystems).

 

Sorry to hear this about your otos. You describe a common challenge with trying to get them to accept commercial foods. New Life Spectrum is a great food to try.

But at this point, they need to get some algae ASAP or they won't make it. A couple ideas (some of which may seem drastic):

Do you have any other tanks or know anyone with an established tank that has algae? You could scrape some off for the otos. Hopefully they'll accept it. This is short-term food emergency action.

Grow algae for them. This will take a few days but it's easy to do. I've done it for my mystery snail. Put several aquarium-safe stones into a few clear plastic cups. Fill the cups with enough tank water to cover the stones. Then place the cups in direct sunlight.

Hope this helps.

Thanks @ DonnerJay and DoubleDutch, Sorry for the delayed response. I dropped another algae tablet in there yesterday, half of it crumbled on the leaves. Both are still alive and the sick-looking one is still not very active, but I am hoping they will get some food with this method. I have some small amount of algae in my betta tank but I am not sure the betta will leave the otos alone..the stone suggestion is great, thanks! I am going to try that out!!

btw I know it's a little overcrowded with the fry, but I plan to move them into a new tank very soon.